The City Commission has awarded the contract for construction of Phase V of the Downtown Decatur Streetscape Improvements to the low bidder, GS Construction of Lawrenceville. Construction is expected to start in February.

The project will provide new streetscape improvements in the following areas:

East Trinity Place:

South side only between North McDonough Street and Church Street.

Both sides between Church Street and Decatur Fire Station No. 1.

Church Street:

Both sides between East Howard Avenue and East Trinity Place.

The work includes new sidewalks, street trees, lighting and street furniture. When the project is near completion, both streets will be milled and resurfaced.

Depending on the weather, the project will take 9 – 12 months. While there will be some inconvenience throughout construction, access to businesses is to be maintained throughout the project, except for short periods when a sidewalk or driveway is being removed or replaced. The city will have an on-site project manager to answer questions, help with construction issues and provide information about the project.

We appreciate everyone’s patience in finally getting this project started and look forward to a productive 2015.

Oakhurst streetscape contractor CMES will continue preliminary construction activities and will begin removal of several trees in the project area on December 8. Three large trees to be removed have been repeatedly damaged by utility line clearance. Other trees to be removed are in areas that will be impacted by new, wider sidewalks and more generous outdoor dining areas. Because the off-street parking lot at Harmony Park will be removed to increase the size of the park, one large tree will be removed to provide an area for replacement angled parking.

Changes to the landscape are always dramatic. However, new trees will be planted throughout the project area as part of the streetscape improvements, including large shade trees where not in conflict with overhead utilities.

The Decatur City Commission voted to adopt a new Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance that will go into effect on July 7, 2014. The purpose of this update is to modernize the current ordinance (which dates back to 1988) and to encourage the conservation of existing tree canopy.

You can learn more about the Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance at a public information meeting Monday, June 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Community Room at the Leveritt Public Works Building, 2635 Talley Street.

The Design, Environment, and Construction Division is currently working to finalize processes and procedures to implement the new ordinance. More information will be available soon. Questions? Contact John Maximuk, john.maximuk@decaturga.com, 678-553-6570.

An update process for Decatur’s tree regulations has been underway since this past fall. The second round of revisions is being considered for adoption by the City Commission on May 19 at 7:30pm, Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St. The purpose to of the update is to modernize the existing ordinance which was developed in 1988, and encourage the conservation of existing tree canopy. Regulation of tree cover is one of several approaches being used by the city to manage the community forest. The Decatur Tree Conservation Ordinance will provide minimum requirements for the protection, maintenance and renewal of trees.

Timeline

Update process started – October 2013

Public input meeting – December 11, 2013

First draft tabled by City Commission for further review – January 21, 2014

Under the revised draft, owners may remove up to 3 protected trees every 18 months. Homeowners will be required to fill out a free, informational permit which will allow the City to track tree canopy. A protected tree is defined as having a 6 inches or greater diameter at breast height. If protected tree removal is part of a project that requires a land development permit or is the 4th or greater protected tree removal within 18 months, then the owner must document the existing tree canopy cover and maintain the same amount of tree canopy once the project is complete. For example, if a property has 40% tree canopy cover and the owner decides to build an addition that will cause the removal of a 12” tree with 600 square feet of tree canopy, then the owner will have to plant 600 square feet of new tree canopy cover.

There are trees down around the City of Decatur this morning, and some residents, businesses and schools are without power.

The current list of known downed trees and limbs in the City of Decatur, in no particular order:

198 Avery Street

453 S. Columbia

435 & 439 E Lake Drive

114 Olympic Place

928 3rd Avenue

116 Landsdowne

351 S. Mcdonough

928 3rd Avenue

923 S. Candler Street

919 S. Candler Street

Oakview and Sring Street

Mountainview & Sycamore Street

803 Ponce de Leon

116 Hurron

For the latest weather updates from the City Schools of Decatur, please visit the CSD website.

Please read through the severe weather tips posted yesterday if you have not done so already. It includes important phone numbers and information about registering for Code Red and Smart911.

GEMA’s One Minute Weather Outlook for Tuesday, April 29, 2014:

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Scattered showers to severe storms are expected to move east across Georgia this afternoon into tonight. The combination of moderate instability and strong wind shear could produce damaging winds and even the possibility of tornadoes. The strong and gusty winds from thunderstorms will have the potential to bring down trees that were weakened by the recent ice storms. Some severe storms may produce large hail and frequent cloud to ground lightning. Minor to significant river flooding will continue. A Flash Flood Watches is in effect for portions of far northeast and southwest Georgia through Wednesday evening.

Flood Warnings continue for the following rivers and creeks in Georgia:

Alapaha River at Statenville affecting Echols County
Altamaha River at Baxley affecting Appling, Tattnall, Toombs, and Wayne Counties
Altamaha River at Everett City affecting Glynn, McIntosh, and Wayne Counties
Ogeechee River near Eden
Satilla River at Atkinson affecting Brantley County
Savannah River near Clyo

Today:

Expect occasional showers and thunderstorms. Some storms may be severe. Highs will range from 70 to 90.

Tonight will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Expect occasional showers and thunderstorms after midnight with lows ranging from 58 to 71.
Wednesday will have occasional showers and thunderstorms with highs ranging from 68 to 88.
Thursday will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the south. Temperatures will range from lows between 50 and 68 to highs between 68 and 82.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is based on the latest forecast provided by the National Weather Service at the time this document was sent to the recipients. The National Weather Service will update their information and graphics as situations dictate. Please check with your local National Weather Service for the most current information for your area.

There are 15 days left to weigh in about the updated tree ordinance draft on Open City Hall. The question is “Do you support the adoption of the UPDATED Tree Conservation Ordinance?” You can select from “Strongly Support, Support, Neutral, Oppose, Strongly Oppose” and also have the option to submit a written statement.

What is Open City Hall?

Open City Hall is an on-line forum for civic engagement. Read what others are saying about important Decatur topics, then post your own statement. City officials will read the statements and incorporate them into their decision process.

When you post your first statement, you will be asked for your name and home address. This confidential information is only used to identify statements from residents in and near Decatur – so that users know which statements are from local residents.

Open City Hall is run by Peak Democracy, a non-partisan company whose mission is to broaden civic engagement and build public trust in government. They will keep your information confidential per their strict privacy policy.

As with any public comment process, participation in Open City Hall is voluntary; city officials will consider input from this forum along with all other channels for participation. However you choose to participate, thanks for helping us build a better Decatur.

It’s cold out today in Decatur and set to get colder by evening, but tonight’s work session about the draft tree ordinance at 6 p.m. and the regular City Commission meeting at 7:30 p.m. will still take place as scheduled at Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St.

Don’t feel like braving the weather but want to see what happens? You can live stream both meetings on the City of Decatur website’s City Commission page by clicking on “streaming video.”